College football notebook: West Virginia receiver enters NFL draft

Enlarge ImageRequest to buy this photoLenny Ignelzi | Associated PressBYU’s Preston Hadley gets a kiss from a beluga whale during the team’s visit to Sea World in San Diego ahead of Thursday’s Poinsettia Bowl.

West Virginia receiver Stedman Bailey is forgoing his final season to enter the NFL draft.

The announcement came during a news conference with coach Dana Holgorsen yesterday ahead of the Mountaineers’ game against Syracuse in the Pinstripe Bowl on Dec. 29.

The game at Yankee Stadium in New York also will be the last for quarterback Geno Smith and receiver Tavon Austin.

Bailey will end his college career owning the majority of West Virginia’s receiving records after three full seasons. The junior finished the regular season with 106 receptions, 1,501 receiving yards and 23 touchdowns, and was named a second-team All-American.

Purdue to pay Hazell $2 million plus incentives

New Purdue coach Darrell Hazell will earn at least twice the salary of his predecessor at Purdue.

The school’s Board of Trustees approved the hiring of Hazell on a six-year contract at a base annual salary of $2 million, including radio, television and marketing appearances, plus as much as $1 million more in bonuses. Former coach Danny Hope earned a Big Ten-low of $950,000 annually.

Purdue also will lend Hazell $725,000 interest-free to cover the cost of his buyout at Kent State, where he was coach for the past two seasons. The school said the loan will be forgiven in installments over time as Hazell meets the conditions of his six-year contract.

Cincinnati QB Kay gets extra season from NCAA

The NCAA granted Cincinnati senior quarterback Brendon Kay an extra season of eligibility, giving the Bearcats a proven passer heading into their first year under coach Tommy Tuberville.

Kay replaced the struggling Munchie Legaux this season and helped Cincinnati win a share of the Big East title and a spot in the Belk Bowl on Dec. 27. The Bearcats went 3-1 in Kay’s four starts.

Kay was hurt repeatedly during his college career, missing time in 2008 and 2011. He was limited to six career games entering this season.

Western Michigan makes Fleck youngest coach in FBS

A person familiar with the decision said Western Michigan hired 32-year-old Tampa Bay Buccaneers assistant P.J. Fleck as its coach.

Fleck, who started his coaching career as a graduate assistant at Ohio State in 2006, will be the youngest coach in the Football Bowl Subdivision. He has worked for Buccaneers coach Greg Schiano the past three years.

Fleck was receivers coach at Rutgers before following Schiano to Tampa Bay this season to do the same job.

Huskers play Northern Illinois at Soldier Field in 2016

Nebraska announced a three-game series with Northern Illinois, including a game at Chicago’s Soldier Field.

The first of the three games will take place at Soldier Field on Sept. 24, 2016. Northern Illinois has played neutral-site games the past two years at Soldier Field against Wisconsin and Iowa.

Notable

New York Giants offensive line coach Matt Rhule was introduced as Temple’s new coach. His hiring had been reported over the weekend. Rhule will replace Steve Addazio, who was hired to coach Boston College. ... Ron Caragher was introduced as the coach at San Jose State. Caragher, who spent the past six years at the University of San Diego, replaces Mike MacIntyre, who left to coach Colorado.